Virtual Research Symposium a first for Black Hills State University

Picture of three people talking at the BHSU Research Symposium

The 22nd Annual Black Hills Research Symposium at Black Hills State University will be held online April 7-9 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The online Symposium is open to the public. Those interested can “like” and/or log-on to the Black Hills Research Symposium Facebook page at any time April 7-9 to view student presentations and posters, comment, and engage in online discussion.

The 22nd Annual Black Hills Research Symposium at Black Hills State University will be held online April 7-9 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of motivated faculty moved quickly after CDC recommendations limited large gatherings in mid-March to ensure students would still have the opportunity to share their research.

This is one of several key spring events at BHSU that will be held virtually to give students the opportunity to participate. Other scheduled events include an online Fake News event April 1 featuring White House correspondent Anita Kumar, a virtual Preview Day for incoming students April 4, and the 28th Annual Student Volunteer Awards April 15.

Dr. Trenton Ellis, assistant professor of human services and sociology at BHSU, and Dr. Skott Chandler, assistant professor of mass communication, serve as co-chairs of the BH Research Symposium (BHRS) Committee.

“We are looking forward to students sharing their work with the BHSU community and beyond. In some ways the online format will actually expand the BHRS audience,” says Ellis. “We are excited for the feedback and discussions that will take place online.”

The Symposium is free and open to the public. Those interested can “like” and/or log-on to the Black Hills Research Symposium Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BlackHillsResearchSymposium/) at any time April 7-9 to view student presentations and posters, comment, and engage in online discussion.

Topics to be presented include research on Jewish settlers of the Black Hills, physical and chemical properties of prairie barren soils, volunteer motivations for the Special Olympics, the effectiveness of an augmented musculoskeletal feedback system compared to traditional core stabilization exercises, and more. More than 30 BHSU students are expected to participate.

Dr. Miro Haček, the first BHSU Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, will present a keynote address and live Q&A on Thursday, April 9 from 4-5 p.m. on the BHRS Facebook page. Haček taught at BHSU this fall and spring, and is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. His keynote topic will be “Democratic Consolidation as a Key Aspect of Peacekeeping in the Western Balkans.”

Like universities and organizations across the country, BHSU navigated some challenges in transitioning the event online. Ellis says BHSU is a tight-knit community, and the positive support of the Research Symposium continuing in the new format was a comforting feeling in such an uneasy time.

“Our committee members, student participants, and faculty advisors are all so passionate about learning and the promise of their fields that they adjusted to our new reality and forged ahead. The committee was incredibly efficient, decisive, and cooperative in their response. We have a solid team,” says Ellis.

The Symposium is one of many university functions where students learn and share their knowledge with others. Ellis says the BHRS provides a platform for students to learn how to collaborate, use the tools and knowledge of their field to solve important problems, and experience the joy of sharing knowledge with others.

“Our society depends on passionate people who are driven by a strong desire to know,” says Ellis. “The BHRS is an outlet for students to feed this pursuit.”


BHRS Committee Members:

Dr. Trenton Ellis – Co-chair, assistant professor of human services and sociology
Skott Chandler – Co-chair, assistant professor of mass communication
Michael Baum, assistant professor of art
Dr. Alissa Call, assistant professor of psychology
Dr. Hyunsuk Choi, assistant professor of tourism and hospitality management
Dr. Yun Seok Choi, assistant professor of chemistry
Dr. Miro Hacek, Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at BHSU, professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dr. Faye LaDuke-Pelster, associate professor of reading education
Dr. Dan May, associate professor of mathematics
Dr. Jarrett Moore, assistant professor of research and assessment
Dr. Parthasarathi Nag, professor of mathematics
Dr. Ashley Pfeiffer, instructor of exercise science
Dr. Wei Song, professor of marketing

About Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University is a masters-level state university with 3,800 students. The campus leads the region in sustainability efforts and maintains top academic programs in business (AACSB Accredited), exercise science, natural sciences, social sciences, the arts, mass communication, health sciences and education. The University, founded in 1883, is located in the northern Black Hills, a region abundant with outdoor activity and culture. Spearfish, S.D., is recognized as one of the top 10 most livable small towns in the USA and has also been recognized nationally for outdoor recreational opportunities. A second location, BHSU-RC, was recently established in Rapid City, the state’s second largest city. BHSU, a member of NCAA Division II athletics, offers 14 sports. BHSU has a legacy of champion rodeo teams.